5 comments about Make It Simpler Paper Piecing: Easy As 1-2-3 - A Pinless Fold and Sew Technique.

1. This is a nice addition to my quilt book library. LOTS of VERY detailed instructions to learn her paper piecing technique. My only issue with this book is the instructions are 100% for HER patterns & techniques. I'm just beginning paper peicing & I don't think I'll be able to adapt her techniques to my other patterns...I'll have to concentrate on instructions to attempt this. Or better yet, I think I'll find a basic paper piecing book. :)



2. I enjoy looking through the book and getting ideas. I'm looking forward to using it in my next project.



3. I don't know if it's just me or what, but I have a hard time with the instructions, but I also haven't made anything in this book. I thought the author was providing a quicker way to construct blocks, but I didn't think so. It just looks like alot more time and work than what's necessary.



4. After a frustrating, actually terrible experience with a paper-pieced quilt top - swore off paper piecing - - UNTIL I saw Anita's technique on Simply Quilts - - I now own two of her books and am anxious to try paperpiecing again. Very talented lady!



5. The book is not helpful when it instructs people to use translucent pattern paper in the printer to copy the patterns. My Canon MP610 printer, which is only a few months old, now has a piece of translucent paper wound around the internal paper feed roll and I cannot reach it to remove it. I will likely have to take my printer to a repair service to get the paper out.

5 comments about Patchwork Puzzle Balls.

1. Oh - these are too cute! First, there were fabric boxes and bowls - which I love! Now, try your hand at fabric balls.
   
   Let me admit my bias - I like cute, clever projects. Jinny Beyer has done the math and laid it all out in clear steps. Plus, you can use up all those fabric scraps that you just can't throw away!
   
   There are more than a dozen projects in this book and they are a good variety on this one theme. Since this book is by Jinny Beyer, the color schemes are inspiring and some of the projects make good use of border prints.
   
   What will you do with fabric balls? Use them in home decor, for the children in your life, as cute baby gifts and more. The designs start simple and get sophisticated. The temari style balls would make a lovely gift, too.



2. If you like 3D geometric figures and quilting, this is a fun way to combine your love of both! These balls are fairly easy to make and a great way to use up some of those smaller scraps that you've got sitting around. I finished my first ball last night in less than 2 hrs - and this included time to make the templates. Jinny suggests hand stitching the balls, but I machine stitched all of mine except for the last 2 seams and it came out just fine.



3. A local children's shelter needs soft toys, and these puzzle balls are perfect for them. I've complete two and plan to do more.



4. This is the best instructional book I have ever read. Due to the fact that I am geometrically challenged I had my doubts if I could really do this. Jinny Beyer is the best with instructions. This book has helped me overcome my challenge and I have "beautiful balls" all over my house. The grandkids love coming here.



5. This book is great. I received it yesterday and have completed a ball today. It is a good book with very detailed ideas and instructions.Shows templates in the back which are easy to follow. Each ball has it's own instructions with pictures to guide you. I am going to make some photo balls from some of the patterns.

2 comments about Plentiful Possibilities: A Timeless Treasury of 16 Terrific Quilts.

1. The collaborative effort of quilting experts Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith, Plentiful Possibilities: A Timeless Treasury Of 16 Terrific Quilts, offers quilting enthusiasts with easy-to-follow patterns for the creation of sixteen eye-catching homemade quilts. Diagrams, traceable patterns, carefully worded, presented, and illustrated instructions make Plentiful Possibilities a wonderfully useful, accessible, and creative source book for novice and experienced quilt makers everywhere.



2. A book of great ideas and patterns, well worth having!

No comments about Christmas Quilts From Hopscotch: Warm and Cozy, Merry and Bright.

5 comments about Better Homes and Gardens 501 Quilt Blocks: A Treasury of Patterns for Patchwork & Applique.

1. This book is a must have for any quilter. There are so many blocks that the cost is unbelieveable if you figure what you would pay for that many patterns elsewhere. My mother even bought this book after she saw mine...and she doesn't even quilt (yet). My 4 year old calls it mommy's best coloring book. I can't think of a better gift for anyone that sews.



2. Any pattern you are looking for is there. The patterns are easy to enlarge, or downsize even further for you mini-quilters. It has projects to complete. I have used the projects as spring boards for my own creativity. It contains seasonal, children's, holiday, floral, sports, and regular patch work patterns.



3. If you are into 4" blocks it is a treasury of patterns if you are an expert at applique this is for you. But if you are a beginner you might find this book a little lite on directions, for coping the block difficult. It is an excellant reference book for later ideas.



4. This is a good book to get inspired. Wonderfull just to look at all the patterns, some are difficult to make. I also use it when somebody mentions a block and I don't what they mean.



5. This book gives diagrams for 501 4 inch blocks and a few examples of how to make these into quilts. The 4 inch blocks cover traditional designs such as sawtooth, friendship star and attic windows, a wide variety of floral designs, sunbonnets, block for each month of the year, holiday themes, hearts, Christmas, Easter, Santas, Halloween, trees and leaves, birds and butterflies, building blocks, ships and planes, stars, baskets, alphabet, numerals, juvenile, cats, sewing and southwest inspired blocks.Simple instructions are provided. Many blocks lend themselves to foundation piecing.

1 comments about Quilting, Patchwork and Applique: A World Guide.

1. Great overview of these needleworks, but I thought it would be more of a visual review of quilts from around the world, instead of detailed sections on each type of needlework. I had no way to know what was inside the book prior to purchase. Beautifully put together and very informative.

4 comments about Embellished Mini-Quilts: Creative Little Works of Art.

1. A wonderful book on embellishing quilted art with plenty of examples of various styles of quilts by well-known artists. Excellent detail as well as overall photos and easy-to-follow instructions. Small projects are easy to finish in a relatively short time. I recommend this book for the serious embellisher as well as the beginning fiberartist.



2. This is a well thought-out book with many interesting photographs of projects. It is a stimulus to the imagination- and it has both materials lists and instructional data. However, I think that it is more useful to the somewhat accomplished than to the beginner. Despite the information as to the various types of embellishments, both traditional and unusual,
   it might be a bit intimidating to someone interested in constructing a first-time wall-art hanging...which is what the "mini quilt" referred to, really is.



3. This may be the wrong word but to me it seemed very avant-garde. The colors were neither appealing nor inspiring. I returned it as not being useful in my extensive library of needlework/textile references.
   
   By the way, however, Amazon's return policy and procedure are both terrific!



4. This is a beautiful array of artistic small quilts. Jamie Fingal did an exceptional job of bringing together some very accomplished art quilters. While this type of quilting may not be for everyone, it is what is going to keep us growing and expressing ourselves through this age-old craft. Beautifully photographed!

5 comments about Comfort and Joy: 14 Quilts for Christmas (That Patchwork Place).

1. The book has a variety of quilting projects and the directions appear to be easy to understand. I like their choice of projects and plan to make a couple of them.



2. Ms. Hickey has written a quilt book for quilters of all levels. While I consider myself an experienced quilter, I enjoyed her tips on how-to pick fabrics and why to pre-wash them. She takes you through all the steps on how to make q quilt right up o adding the label.
   
   The first section has all kinds of helpful sewing and cutting tips which is a great place for a beginner to start. And, like me, even the more experienced can learn/refresh their knowledge with a tip or trick such as using a battery operated mustache trimmer to rip seams FAST!
   
   The next section has 14 patterns from quilts to table toppers to wall hangings to table runners. Each project comes with a materials list and cutting directions. How to assemble the blocks, the quilts and finishing suggestions are given. There are plenty of graphics to go with the directions and, of course a color photo of the finished project. The projects range from simple piecing, simple appliqué, fusible appliqué and finally 3 D appliqué. A final page tells a bit about the author.
   
   COMFORT AND JOY is a book that will be used to make wonderful Christmas presents for many years to come. I will use it when I teach my granddaughter to quilt her first quilt because the instructions are written in simple, straight forward language. With these time-honored patterns, it will be a book to keep and hand down for generations to come.



3. Mary gives us another great book of quilts that are easy to make even for beginners, but they make you look like a pro! Her little comments and stories are entertaining, and the photography and settings with all the sweet little wooden ornaments make this book fun to look at over and over. I would highly recommend any quilt book by Mary Hickey.



4. Mary Hickey's COMFORT AND JOY: 14 QUILTS FOR CHRISTMAS offers up pieced and appliqued projects featuring angels, snowmen, and stars. There are lap quilt, table runners and more in this holiday collection, which features traditional designs and lovely seasonal presentations.



5. Thhis book is one I purchased as a gift for an online secret quilting sister and she just loved it! Lots of ideas and wasy to change these so that they are great for any season and not just the Christmas holidays. Directions are simple and easy to follow.

4 comments about Liberated String Quilts.

1. As a big fan of "Liberated Quiltmaking", I waited with great anticipation for the release of "Liberated String Quilts"...and I certainly have not been disappointed. While the book itself follows a more common structure than its predecessor, it is still full of liberating ideas sure to inspire creativity. It certainly has given me ideas to apply to my current stack of projects on the go. I have added it to the stack of books I keep close by for easy reference and applaud Ms. Marston's latest contribution.



2. This is another "got to have" by Gwen Marston. It was like I was looking at the quilts my grandmother made when I was growing up. These quilts are not only easy, but they give you the inspiration to create.
   I have two other books by Gwen. Some things I love about her books . . . she has great respect for the quilters that came before us, her books are fun to read, easy to understand - and they ignite the creativity that we all possess. I'm on my second reading of this book,(I'm in the process of trying to decide which quilt I want to try first.)
   I think the thing that has made the most impact on me from reading her books is "Who made up the rules?" We make our own "rules", quilt the way we want to quilt, use fabric we love - and the result is something we love doing.

   Get this book as a special gift for yourself. And if you look at the many examples, you'll probably find one of your grandmother's quilts between the covers of this book. Bottom line is you'll have a great time - both reading and quilting!




3. I have been waiting for this book and like it even more than Gwen's Liberated Quilts. (and I love it!) Liberated String quilts focuses on process instead of patterns and draws on color photos of antique quilts made in this manner to inspire more modern versions of string quilt process. I have made samples of Gwen's process and it is fun to make a quilt this way. If you have recently been bit by the scrappy quilt bug--you will be particularly thrilled with this book. Some of the types of quilts covered in this book are: string bars, pinwheel strings, strings and stars, Amish string, chevron sting bars, slanted bars, string tulip block, string baskets.
   The color plates of the quilts are clear and detailed and you could tell a lot about these quilts' construction by them.
   Gwen writes her directions and discussions with enthusiasm and clarity. I took her string quilt class a few years ago, and her books really do reflect her great quilting personality as well as offer good directions for string process quilts.



4. I am a big fan of Gwen Marston. She is totally irreverant when it comes to quilters' rules. However you shouldn't think that she has no rules at all. If you purchase this book believing it's all just a piece of cake you'd be wrong. Making the basic "string" fabric is extremely simple, then you follow her patterns for making the blocks using this fabric. A couple of her blocks even have set-in seams which are not all that easy. A bit of quiltmaking expertise is required. But then there are the blocks like Amish Rectangular String, Arkansas Traveler, and Slanted Bars which are very simple and go together quickly. I'd recommend this book for anyone who wants a break from the Mariners Compass, Texas Star, and paper piecing quilts you've been working on. It's different! And that's not a bad thing.

4 comments about Dear Hannah: In the Style of Jane Stickle.

1. What an amazing book! Better than I had hoped, this book contains 144 block patterns, including 72 appliqued flowers, birds, and animals, and 3 dozen pieced blocks. There are a number of different quilts pictured in the book made up using some or all of the blocks, in different layouts and colourways. There is even a redwork version! When purchasing I thought I would be working on one quilt for a while but now I have been inspired to do half a dozen different quilts from this book. Absolutely fantastic and great value!



2. If you love Dear Jane, you must have this one too....I really enjoy it and hope to do the quilt some day...have to finish Dear Jane first.



3. I LOVE her Dear Jane book but this one I don't like at all. It's mostly applique blocks which are ugly in my opinion. I didn't see any blocks I really cared to spend any time on. The letters to her grandchild were a sweet idea but this book is one of my LEAST favorites.



4. This book is very beautiful and so useful. Has inside patterns of many appliqués and blocks that has possible because a contributions of a many Dear Hannas Friends. has also a delicious and curiosity letters about the time spend in research of blocks. This is good to make a panel or bedspread. The Amazon shipping me on time .